Chapter 441: Going to Ziyan

Li Li Xijun parted with Li Li Ximing, went back to the cave abode to rest, missed

"The Mingyang lineage is likely at Mount Luoxia Mountain, and it is very difficult for our family to obtain it. The cultivation techniques bestowed by the Immortal Mirror are random and uncertain, and they only go up to Foundation Establishment. We cannot rely solely on external objects..."

Li Li Xijun revealed his bottom line to Li Li Ximing, wanting to see what his attitude was. Li Li Ximing valued cultivation above all else; when the day came that his path was severed, there was no telling what he might do. Li Li Xijun was not confident in his own breakthrough to Foundation Establishment and only feared passing away during the attempt:

"If that day truly comes... without me mediating in between, I fear it will be very ugly."

This was his greatest source of anxiety. Li Li Yuanjiao was obsessed with that jade buckle. Li Li Xijun could not help him, but he understood that Yu Yu Muxian was not someone easy to deal with. If this matter reached a dead end, Li Li Yuanjiao's personality was decisive; he would not wait for Yu Yu Muxian to break through to Early Zifu.

Li Li Xijun sighed and ultimately set the matter aside for now.

He did not harbor any resentment toward Li Li Ximing because of this. Li Li Ximing was born with excellent talent; if he could obtain the technique, he truly had the potential for Early Zifu, and the divine abilities were alluring. When he had the hope of climbing to that position, it was inevitable that he would be single-minded about cultivation.

"After all, wandering in the Great Void, reflecting divine abilities, attaining a lifespan of five hundred years, receiving the courtesy of the Immortal Sect, playing with the mortal world, and gaining insight into the profound... such temptations are incomparable to anything else!"

To have one's own Mingyang divine ability, to traverse the Great Void and travel the world, to possess beauties and avoid disasters, to not be treated as a pawn to be sacrificed at will, to watch the clouds rise and fall, and to be treated with respect no matter what genius one met—who could resist such temptations?

The temptations Li Li Ximing faced were not on the same magnitude as those of the others... Li Li Xijun and the others wasting some time on worldly matters was merely lingering at Foundation Establishment a little earlier or later, but Li Li Ximing could potentially determine whether he could reach that position. He found it hard to choose, and having reached this point, Li Li Xijun could no longer bring himself to blame him.

He was sitting blankly when the door of the cave dwelling was slowly knocked. A young girl in a white dress walked in slowly, looking to be fifteen or sixteen years old, with a pair of beautiful phoenix eyes, and said softly:

"Elder brother, Brother Ming asked me to bring a magic treasure over..."

This girl was none other than Li Li Yuexiang, now at the fourth level of Fetal Breath. She did not like to move around and spent her days on Mount Qingdu Mountain. Li Li Xijun raised his eyebrows and saw her offer a jade bead.

This jade bead was entirely green and tied with a red string. It was the 【Qingxuan】, a top-grade magic treasure for Qi Refining, just a hair's breadth away from Foundation Establishment. Li Li Yuexiang said:

"Brother Ming said he has already broken through to Foundation Establishment. This magic treasure can at most summon a peak Qi Refining Green Deer, so it is already useless to him, and he asked me to bring it over."

Li Li Xijun glanced at the jade bead and said softly:

"You take it and use it..."

"Xiang'er is on this mountain day after day and doesn't need such a good thing. Better leave it for Cheng Huai."

Li Li Chenghuai had been sent back by Li Li Xizhi and was currently studying on the mountain, not yet at the age for cultivation. Li Li Yuexiang had always been very opinionated and refused resolutely, placing the jade bead on the table. Li Li Xijun had no choice but to nod and say softly:

"Have you chosen your spiritual energy? What kind of technique are you preparing to cultivate?"

Li Li Yuexiang replied:

"Little sister is preparing to swallow the 【Changxing Pheasant Fire】 and cultivate the 'Pheasant Fire Changxing Technique'."

Seeing that she had no intention of asking about Li Li Yuanjiao, Li Li Xijun felt a slight headache and nodded silently. Li Li Yuexiang spoke up:

"Elder brother should still think more for himself."

Li Li Xijun just nodded and waved for her to go down. He spread out the roster on the table; the whole generation of Chengming would soon be Qi Refining, and he had to arrange for these people.

Nowadays, Qi Refining was not much; only Foundation Establishment could enter the core decision-making layer of the Li family. Li Li Xijun read the names of the dozen or so people repeatedly and thought to himself:

"I wonder how many will fall halfway, and how many will reach Foundation Establishment..."

Mount Yuting Mountain.

As time flowed, Li Li Qinghong practiced for a few months, opened her eyes, operated her immortal foundation as usual, and spread out a patch of purple light.

"It is time to cast spells to seek thunder again."

She performed the spell, chanted the incantation, the purple light surged, and thunder flickered. The several statues on the right actually lit up one by one, and a large amount of information was transmitted into her mind:

"March 23rd, north of Hanchuan City in Yue State... 【Duru Thunder】 descends on Douxuan Mountain... October 6th, in the shade of Fenkuai Mountain in Yue State... 【Fuyinchen Thunder】 descends... December 2nd, Goose Lake Island at the corner of the Qunyi Sea... 【Juque Thunder】 descends..."

A series of messages emerged, totaling more than ten, and finally, there were hazy, incomplete words:

"Dragon-snake kin... failed to prove Combined Water... now returning to the dissolution of heaven and earth... East Sea water descends, thunder rises."

Li Li Qinghong digested it for a while and was shocked in her heart:

"A demon king has fallen in the East Sea!"

According to the feedback from this altar, a peak Early Zifu demon king had failed to break through to Jin Dan and died, leading to a series of heaven and earth anomalies—thunder descending and water rising.

This news was unexpected. Although Li Li Qinghong could not immediately convert it into benefits, she had learned such major news and was already one step ahead. She could not help but think:

"This altar actually has such a function! Nowadays, heaven and earth are vastly different, and even transmission talismans have lost their effect... This use is huge! Knowing these things in advance, we can make preparations for the family!"

This thunder path shortened one's lifespan. Li Li Qinghong had already lost thirty percent of her lifespan cultivating it to this day. She did not care much, but she did not want her clansmen to cultivate this path. Looking at it now, however, they could not afford not to.

"This altar must be cultivated to 【Brother Xuan Lei Bo】 or 【Dong Lei Sheng】 to be used... If no one cultivates it after me, this path will be severed."

Her thoughts turned, and she remembered another matter:

"This technique was given by Ling Ling Yanzi of the Ziyan Sect back then... I have never asked clearly. I fear I cannot delay any longer. Whether it was arranged by the Early Zifu or not... I must make a trip to the Ziyan Sect!"

Li Li Qinghong took out a token from her storage bag. This token was purple and glistening, very beautiful. She stared at it for a moment:

"Ling Ling Yanzi left this token back then, which can allow my family's descendants to join the Ziyan Sect. It can be put to good use!"

"This trip, I will first set off for the 【Ziyan Sect】 to visit Ling Ling Yanzi, and then stop by the East Sea to collect thunder."

Having made up her mind, she stood up, took the few small letters from the side of the altar, flipped through them casually, and a hint of joy appeared on her face. She thought to herself:

"Second uncle has finally left the Southern Border!"

She immediately rode the thunder and flew up, landing on Mount Qingdu Mountain, where Li Li Xijun was drinking water in the courtyard after finishing his cultivation.

Li Li Qinghong stated her intentions, and Li Li Xijun nodded silently, saying softly:

"Situ Mo is trapped on Jindou Island; it is the right time to go out. Since aunt is going to the East Sea, you can see Second Grand-uncle."

"As for the Ziyan Sect..."

Li Li Xijun asked:

"Which junior of the family should we send?"

Li Li Qinghong pondered for a moment and said softly:

"Most of the Chengming generation have mediocre talent, and Cheng Huai must stay at home... I fear only Li Yuexiang has slightly better talent..."

Li Li Xijun shook his head and said:

"Uncle Li Yuanjiao has not spoken; this matter cannot be done. Let's shelve it for now and not be in a hurry. Aunt should go to the East Sea and ask Uncle Jiao before returning."

"Very well."

Seeing this, Li Li Qinghong could only nod. After tidying up for a while, she rode the wind alone. Li Li Xijun saw her off past Wangyue Lake, then picked up the sword formula to read it twice, closed the stone door, and began to cultivate.

The spring breeze lingered on Mount Qingdu Mountain, the vegetation was lush, and the immortal towers and pavilions had sparse figures, submerged in the night that was gradually enveloping them.

As soon as Li Li Qinghong left Mount Qingdu, a fine, continuous rain began to fall. Looking out, the dark clouds were endless. The rain was not heavy, but it was incessant. She rode the wind for a long time without seeing the end of these dark clouds.

If she had not received the news from the altar earlier, Li Li Qinghong would certainly not have been suspicious and would have thought it was just a heavy rain. Looking at it now, she felt it was an anomaly caused by a failure to break through to Jin Dan.

She rode the wind through Yufu Prefecture and Dongli Mountain, and soon she saw the territory of the Ziyan Sect from afar. A female cultivator was standing in mid-air, wearing the Daoist robes of the Ziyan Sect, pinching her fingers and looking at the sky with her eyebrows slightly furrowed.

Li Li Qinghong rode the lightning over. The female cultivator hurriedly regained her senses, bowed to her very politely, and said softly:

"Shen Shen Yanqing of the Ziyan Sect greets the senior. I wonder..."

"Li Li Qinghong of the Mount Qingdu Li family."

This female cultivator was at the seventh level of Qi Refining, similar in age to Li Li Xijun. She was surprised to hear this:

"So it is the senior! Shen Yanqing has long admired your name."

Li Li Qinghong's reputation was actually not prominent, so she just took it as polite talk. She did not expect this female cultivator to come up and say in a gentle voice:

Li Li Qinghong pondered for a moment and said in surprise:

"You are also a thunder cultivator?"

"Indeed!"

Shen Shen Yanqing smiled with her eyes curved and replied:

"The junior comes from the Shen family of Xiuyue and is entrusted to cultivate under the Ziyan Sect. My family's True Person obtained a thunder technique in his early years, so there has always been a thunder technique inheritance within the clan."

"So it is a direct descendant of an immortal clan."

The Shen family was a Early Zifu immortal clan of the Xiuyue Sect on the territory of Xu State, with a long-standing inheritance. The identity of the person in front of her was equivalent to Xiao Xiao Yuansi of the Xiao family, which was very noble. However, Shen Shen Yanqing did not appear arrogant and warmly welcomed her down, asking:

"What is the purpose of the senior's visit?"

Li Li Qinghong replied:

"I have come to visit Senior Ling Ling Yanzi."

Shen Shen Yanqing realized, cast a purple token, and brought her inside. She saw mountain peaks rising, with large and small peaks submerged in thick purple clouds. This purple energy was like silk and threads, circling and rising, turning into various images, appearing ethereal and immortal, with beautiful pavilions and towers.

The Ziyan Sect occupied this wonder and had collected a large number of related techniques over the years, operating this immortal mountain into an immortal scene. Cultivators from various countries and overseas often traveled thousands of miles to collect the energy.

"This Ziyan Blessed Land is famous. Six or seven out of ten of the world's purple energy originate here. All those with purple energy lineages call this place a holy land for cultivation. If the senior has come at the right time, waiting for the morning sun to rise, that is what you call an immortal scene."

Shen Shen Yanqing looked at Li Li Qinghong admiring the beautiful scenery and smiled:

"The old Peak Master didn't brag less about his friendship with your clan back then. He has finally waited for you."

Li Li Qinghong had long heard Li Li Tongya say that Ling Ling Yanzi had an unreliable personality. She smiled slightly, but then saw Shen Shen Yanqing say softly:

"The junior cultivates the Xiao Thunder and the 'Xiaoyun Thunder Technique'. If I succeed in forming the Dao foundation, it will be 'Light Thunder Falls'... I wonder what the senior's is..."

Li Li Qinghong did not know why she asked these things, so she just replied politely:

"'Brother Xuan Lei Bo'."

"'Brother Xuan Lei Bo'..."

Shen Shen Yanqing pondered for a moment and frowned:

"I have never heard of it..."

"It was originally 'Dong Lei Sheng'."

Li Li Qinghong added. Shen Shen Yanqing understood and said happily:

"So it is also Xiao Thunder! If there is an opportunity, I hope to see the senior's thunder altar."

Her words revealed a lot of information. Li Li Qinghong was thoughtful and thought to herself:

"So it is Xiao Thunder... It seems that all Xiao Thunder natures have the ability to set up altars and perform rituals. The Shen family's inheritance is ancient, so I can ask and inquire about some news!"

Seeing Li Li Qinghong smile and nod, Shen Shen Yanqing smiled happily, quickly closing the distance, and nodded:

"Our three thunder lineages are not like others; we cannot touch blood energy, so we are closest among fellow practitioners. Once I successfully break through to Foundation Establishment, I will demonstrate the thunder prayer method for the senior first!"

Li Li Qinghong was slightly stunned. Only then did she know that thunder cultivators could not consume blood energy. The many doubts in her mind were resolved in an instant, and she had a feeling of sudden enlightenment:

"No wonder! No wonder there are no thunder technique lineages in Jiangnan! Thunder techniques have declined overseas and in Jiangnan! So that's it. No wonder this little girl is so close to me!"

Most of the elixirs circulating in Jiangnan were made of blood energy. If consuming blood energy was truly harmful to thunder cultivators, how could these thunder cultivator lineages not decline? There were few thunder cultivator inheritances among the three sects and seven gates, let alone inheritances that could reach the Early Zifu. Most clan cultivators and rogue cultivators were also unaware, making thunder techniques even harder to cultivate.

Shen Shen Yanqing continued on the side:

"There are some elixirs that I don't need to mention, and the senior must know. As long as a thunder cultivator consumes blood energy, their cultivation will increase at first, but it will quickly slow down. Those who are unaware often consume them more diligently, and soon they will stop progressing, making it difficult to break through, to the point of greatly reducing their lifespan..."

Li Li Qinghong felt lingering fear again. Fortunately, when she was young, the Li family was penniless and had no elixirs to consume. Later, she was sent to the Fei family, and she also had no opportunity to consume elixirs.

By the time she reached Qi Refining, Li Li Yuanjiao had received the White Talisman, and the family's limited resources were tilted toward him. Li Li Qinghong had only consumed one or two, perhaps obtained from the Xiao family, and she had not consumed many, so she had survived like this. Later, Wang Xun revealed the truth, and she never consumed them again.

Even so, Li Li Qinghong still found the reason why her cultivation speed was slightly slow when she was at the third or fourth level of Qi Refining—it must have been caused by those one or two elixirs.

She let out a soft breath and thanked her grandfather Li Li Tongya from the bottom of her heart, and even a small doubt arose in her mind:

"Could it be... that Grandfather guessed something, which is why he arranged it step by step like this."

She was slightly distracted, quickly adjusted, and a second realization arose:

"No wonder this little girl is so close to me. If the thunder technique lineage cannot touch blood energy, then it also cannot consume 'Tongcan' to increase cultivation and refine divine abilities... Naturally, there are many fewer worries."

Shen Shen Yanqing was still politely introducing the various sceneries of the Ziyan Sect in front, but Li Li Qinghong's state of mind had already changed completely. Holding a bit of joyful relief, she walked in this sect full of purple clouds.

(End of chapter)